Stitches and Scars (Soap x OC)

~02~

~Alicent~

"Shoot," I mumble as I trip over my own feet, trying to pull my boots on as I hobble towards the door. I'm late, again. I finally get my foot in, pulling the long laces tight and tying a bow, then sliding the remaining fabric of my cargos over the warn boot. I double check that my other shoe is on, because yes, I've forgotten one before, then grab my sweatshirt and race out of my room.

I slip the gray fabric over my arms, before zipping it half way as I walk. It's cold out today as I leave the barracks, crossing the matted down grass field to the infirmary. Before long, I'm entering the cold building, smiling towards the solider standing out front. I turn a few corners, speed walk down a few halls, and grab my first clipboard as I go

"Not too bad," I comment to myself as I glance at my watch, then walk into my first room. "Mornin' Boss," I greet happily with a smile. "Good morning too you, Sunshine," the man in the hospital bed greets back with a grin.

Boss is his callsign, his real name being Jake. But, I know the men's callsigns feel more normal sometimes, so I always resort to those unless asked otherwise. "How's the leg today?" I ask, sitting at the small computer in the room, signing in to his chart.

"Don't you mean lack of leg?" He teases. It's rare someone is so accepting to losing a limb, so I appreciate his humor. I roll my eyes dramatically while smiling, grabbing gloves before rolling my chair to his bed. "How is your lack of a leg, then," I reply.

He shrugs, "not bad.. still hurts." he says. I know his pain is worse then he lets on, because I amputated only 3 days ago. "I'll get your IV drip going again," I reply, my eyes focused on lifting the blanket on his leg, revealing my work.

I grin as I see it, healthy and healing. "It's a little red, minimal swelling, no discharge," I list off, more for my own memory then his information. I touch the incision lightly, checking my stitches and for blood flow. He hisses slightly, and I take that as my sign to finish my exam. I scoot my chair back and pull off my gloves, disposing of them then heading to set up his IV bag.

"You'll feel better in a jiffy," I say, unclamping the line and letting the fluids and pain meds fill his system. "Ah, you always know how to treat a man," he jokes, laying his head back as the first affects of the drugs reach his mind. I smile and shake my head, turning to type my findings in his record.

It's silent for a good minute, before he starts rambling. I knew it was coming, that's been his reaction to the pain medications since he first showed up here. Yet each day, it always gets funnier.

"Say, Sunshine," he starts and I can feel his eyes on me. "Have I asked you out yet?" I grin, holding back my laugh as I keep my eyes on the screen. "Actually, you have, five times already," I joke.

He snorts behind me, "well, I can see why."

I sigh and turn to face him, still smiling. "You need anything else before I go?"

He grins, "Just you doll face." His words mush together slightly, his eyes growing slightly heavier by the second.

I roll my eyes again, grabbing my clipboard and heading towards the door of his room. "I'll see you this afternoon, don't cause too much trouble for the nurses, okay?"

He just laughs, waving me off, then calling goodbye as I walk to my next patient.

I turn into the doorway of the next room under my name, holding back a groan as hostile eyes turn to meet me. I instead smile at the man on the bed, glancing briefly at the one standing beside him.

"Hi there, Gunner is it?" I ask, setting my board down next to the computer. "You're chart says it, no?" He snaps back, his friend glaring at him. I keep my mouth shut, logging in and pulling up his record.